Bible Study Series: Preaching The Gospel To The Community, Acts 10:1-17

 

PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO THE COMMUNITY

 

Acts 10:1-20

GETTING THE CHURCH PREPARED FOR THE MESSAGE

(HOW DO YOU GET PREPARED FOR A MESSAGE FROM GOD?)

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"

   A.   There are communities of God fearing people who don’t know Jesus.

1.     There are people who do the right thing everyday, and treat everyone right, But don’t know Jesus.

2.     There are people who are loving, compassionate and generous, yet don’t know Jesus.

3.     There are people who are fed up the worlds standards and pursue the righteousness of God, yet don’t know Jesus.

         B. There are God Fearing people who are neglected by the Church and have  

             To be directed to the light of the Church by extraordinary means.

1.     Cornelius and his family were one of those communities.

2.     Cornelius and his family were unlikely people to have a love for God.

a.     He was a Roman soldier.

b.     The Romans were the enemy of Israel.

c.      The Roman community worshipped idol gods.

d.     The Jews had a law preventing them from being in the company of Gentiles.

e.     Cornelius and his family were Gentiles.

          C. God uses love to breakdown racial barriers.

1.     Love has no boundaries.

2.     Love does not see race, position, status, or money.

3.     Love see people, circumstances, needs and opportunity.

4.     Cornelius love extended outside him family into the Jewish family.

 

LOVE BEGINS WITH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

V:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

A.    Cornelius reverences the Lord in His prayers and with his humbleness.

1.     God values your prayers

2.     God values your giving.

3.     God remembers your prayers and giving.

B.     What goes around, comes around.

1.     Cornelius worshipped the Lord with his prayers and giving.

2.     Cornelius worshipped the Lord in the training of his family and

Friends to know the true and living God.

C.     God blessed Cornelius with what He needed the most, a messenger of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1.     Cornelius had a connection with Lord.

2.     Cornelius had a connection with Jewish community.

3.     However, The Jewish community rejected a relationship with Jesus.

4.     God directed Cornelius outside the Jewish community to get to

Church of Jesus Christ.

D.    The blessings of God requires continuous obedience.

1.     Sometimes God may require you to do what you have never

Done before.

2.     We must trust God’s directions and follow them.

3.     Obedience to God’s command led Cornelius to Peter, His rock of faith.

 

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LOVE FOLLOWS GOD’S DIRECTIONS

V:7. When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

A.    Hearing the Word, requires doing the Word.

1.     We must  learn to act on God’s Word.

2.     There is a window of opportunity to act.

3.     We have no idea when the window will close.

B.     Sometimes God gives us helpers to do what we can’t do and

Go where we can’t go.

1.     Cornelius was in charge of 80 to 100 soldiers

2.     He may not have been able to leave his post.

3.     God gives us people we can trust and share our relationship

With Him.

4.     When we share our love for God with others, they get excited

About the mission

 

GETTING THE PREACHER PREPARED TO PREACH

V:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

A.    God works both ends of the ministry.

1.     He prepares those who need the Word and those who will teach the

Word at the same time.

2.     God had prepared Cornelius, a Roman soldier to work with the Jewish

Community.

3.     God had given Cornelius a heart to look beyond the Roman rule and

See the needs of those he ruled.

4.     Perhaps God had prevented Cornelius from meeting Jesus until his

Family was ready to receive the Word.

B.     Peter the Apostle had to be prepared to go outside his comfort zone.

1.     While Peter was anointed to preach the Gospel, he still had areas

Of growth.

2.     God had to remind Peter that he had been freed from the penalty

Of the law with the death of Jesus on the cross.

3.     It was the Jewish law not to associate with non- Jews because they were

Considered unclean.

GOD GROWS US TO THE MISSION

V:11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

A.    Peter was hungry, so God used a dream about food to illustrate His

Divine concept and his prejudice against Gentiles.

1.     According to Leviticus 11, certain animals Jews were not to eat

                Leviticus 11:20-23

                20 "'All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.    

                 23 But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest.

                Leviticus 11:26-27

                26 "'Every animal that has a split hoof not completely divided or that   

                does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches [the carcass   

                 of any of them will be unclean. 27 Of all the animals that walk on all          

                fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you;

 

2.     The laws of unclean animals was engrained in Peter and not easily

Changed.

3.     God repeated His new rule three times to express the divine change

To grace.

4.     God ended the vision with divine concept.

What I make clean is clean.

 

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH; MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

V:17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

A.    Peter was stuck on tradition, but God dissolved tradition with grace.

1.     When God speaks, we must meditate on His Word to

Gain understanding.

2.     God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are above our

Understanding.

3.     If we submit ourselves to God we will find understanding.

B.     Sometimes God does not give us time to consult others before

He presents us with the mission.

1.     It is when God puts us in the mission that we understand His plan.

2.     While Peter was still meditating on the dream, that the mission

Showed up at the door.

3.     The men that showed up were Roman soldiers, Gentiles who

Were considered uncleaned by Jews.

4.     Peter’s change was immediate because he invited the men to

Spend the night with him.

5.     It is alright to be religious, but religion has to be put into practice.

      

 

 

 

 

THE MISSION REQUIRES SUBMISSION TO THE SPIRIT

V:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

A.    Being in tune with Holy Spirit is the key to being submissive with

The will of God.

1.     God changed Peter’s attitude while the mission was in progress.

2.     Some commands from God require immediate attention.

3.     How do you know if God is telling you to do something or its

The flesh talking.

4.     I think you will know when it glorifies the Lord and lifts up

Jesus.

B.      When you are in tune with Lord, He will give updated directions

As needed.

1.     Peter would learn that his problem with the Gentiles was what

The dream was all about.

2.     Peter resolved his prejudice against Gentiles with the will to

Please the Father.

3.     Peter having overcome his prejudice, proceeded with the

Mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles.

4.     Peter spent two days traveling with Cornelius men getting to know

a people he Previously despised.

5.     Peter’s heart was changed to one of love and respect for all

Who Call on the name of the Lord.

C.      Peter met with Cornelius who dreamed of being accepted

By the Lord.

1.     To Peters delight, it was not just Cornelius he met, but a whole

Community of devout people ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2.     How often is our life changed by some darkness in our character

That is brought to light by divine intervention.

3.     Peter’s preaching was given visual and verbal approval by lives changed

With the Holy Spirit descending upon the crowd with the gifts to speak in different languages.

4.     The Holy Spirit descended on the 120 Jews on the day of Pentecost.

The 120 were given the gift of languages.

5.     Peter saw God as no respecter of person

6.     He was able to see equality in the Gospel.

 

 

THANK GOD FOR TROUBLING OUR LIVES

 

Rev. M. Mitchell